Interior Plantscapes

1
Interior Plantscapes

• Light

2
Plant Response

• minimum light intensity per species
• light requirement dependent upon
• native habitat
• light intensity at which it was produced
• degree of acclimatization
• tropical
• colored an variegated leaves
• flowering plants

3
Light Compensation Point

• Photosynthetic rate equals respiration rate
• Minimum light levels for maintenance of a foliage
  plant is that which permits the plant to function
  at a level slightly exceeding the compensation
  point.

4
Compensation Pt. (contd)

• below CP plant draws on its reserves and
  deteriorates rapidly.
• at CP, plants will die in less than 2 yrs.
• New leaves not produced, old ones have life span
  and abscise.
• Attractiveness declines
• plant dies
• Ficus benjamina 2 yrs, Dieffenchia 1 yr.

5
Compensation Pt. (contd)

• requirement to maintain high quality landscape
• lost foliage replaced
• done with light levels above the minimum
• results I growth of new leaves
• pruning required

6
Growth Characteristics

• adequate light when the plant maintains its
  leaves and if a new leaf is formed the oldest
  leaf stays o the plant.
• Brighter light, shorter internodes
• too low light, leaves yellow and drop
• new growth leggy, elongated stems, small new
  leaves

7
Selecting Plants

• select plants for the given light intensity
• change the light intensity to suit the plants
  chosen
• at light levels below 30 fc, live plants not
  recommended
• live plants used here are frequently replaced
• consider use of preserved or artificial plants
  here

8
Light Source

• Sun
• Artificial light (lamps)

9
Artificial Light

• Installation
• Duration
• day length versus vegetative reponse
• photperiodism and flowering
• Light Quality
• responses to red and far-red light
• responses to blue light